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Proposals to amend the Food Notice: Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds

Update – 2 March 2026

Summary of submissions released and updated notice published

Thanks to those who made a submission on this consultation.

We've published the updated notice that takes effect from 2 March 2026.

Food Notice: Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds [PDF, 777 KB]

Summary of submissions [PDF, 297 KB]

Why we consulted

New Zealand Food Safety invited public comment on proposed changes to the Food Notice: Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds.

The proposed changes included:

  • 7 proposals for new, amended, or removed maximum residue levels in Schedule 1
  • one proposal for a new entry in Schedule 3.

This consultation opened on 6 October and closed on 5 December 2025 at 11.59pm.

Consultation document

Proposals to amend the Food Notice: Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds [PDF, 405 KB]

Related document

NZL 786 – SPS notification: Proposals to amend Maximum Residue Levels (WTO notification) [PDF, 245 KB]

Background information

Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) are the maximum legal levels for residues of agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines in food for sale in New Zealand. As new products and uses are registered, new entries for MRLs and compounds for which no MRL applies are established, and existing entries are adjusted as needed. The MRLs are set to ensure that residue levels remain as low as practicable without compromising the ability for the chemical to successfully do what is intended.  

The food notice and its entries are established for agricultural compounds to support good agricultural practice in New Zealand while ensuring risks associated with food safety are effectively managed. MRLs may also be proposed to support the importation of food into New Zealand.

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

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